Nagpur: After decades of expanding without a comprehensive digital map of its civic assets, Nagpur is finally moving towards creating a GIS-based database of its buildings, infrastructure and underground utilities, a move expected to change how the city plans and executes development works.Municipal Commissioner Vipin Itankar directed Nagpur Municipal Corporation officials on Thursday to use Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to map existing infrastructure and ensure future civic projects are planned with a clear picture of what already exists underground and above the ground.A meeting at NMC headquarters discussed mapping existing buildings and infrastructure, streamlining permissions for proposed construction and creating a digital database that can be accessed by citizens.Itankar directed officials to assess infrastructure requirements arising from future urban growth and plan development works accordingly. He also stressed coordination among civic departments to minimise the problems caused by agencies digging up roads or undertaking construction without adequate information about existing infrastructure.The civic body also plans to make information on existing infrastructure digitally accessible to citizens through the GIS platform, bringing greater transparency to planning and project execution.Officials from the town planning and engineering departments, representatives of CREDAI-Nagpur and other NMC officials attended the meeting.
